MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. Law enforcement officers on Wednesday prevented a terrorist act in the Russian North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan, as a result of which thugs got blown up on their own bomb, the National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) told TASS.

"Today in the afternoon, officers of a mobile police group tried to stop a suspicious car in the village of Sirtych, which was going in the direction of Derbent," the statement said.

"When the thugs realized that they can’t escape pursuit, they detonated a homemade explosive device, as a result of which a powerful explosion occurred," it said. "A police officer who took part in the pursuit of criminals was fatally wounded. No civilians were hurt."

An operative and investigative group and Federal Security Service (FSB) explosives experts are currently working at the site of the incident. The criminals are being identified and their possible involvement in other terrorism-related crimes is being established.

"Thanks to vigilance of police officers and timely actions by law enforcement bodies, the crimes planned by the thugs were prevented," the NAC said.

After the blowing up of a car with Russian Interior Ministry troops in Dagestan Tuesday, the NAC took measures aimed at searching for thugs and their accomplices.

Russia’s law enforcement agencies continue fighting militants in the North Caucasus over 15 years since the battle phase of the second war against Islamist separatists in Chechnya came to an end in 2000. Attacks on security officials and civilians occur from time to time in Dagestan, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria.